We're at the end of our 12th year at Hill top farm, and the flower farm is going strong despite the Issues thrown at us over the last few years. Thank you for supporting us, and here's a review of what we did during 2024

January and February were the usual winter jobs at the farm, lots of pruning shrubs and roses, and the arrival of another Greenhouse, donated from a local garden. I spoke at several Gardening clubs and WI groups, and also at Surrey University at the Sustainable Showcase.

We also flowered 3 funerals with winter foliage, and flowers plus dried blooms. 

After poor weather at the beginning of the year, March suddenly arrived warm, and the Tulips made an appearance 2 weeks earlier than normal!  We waged war on the slugs and snails who had loved it being wet and then warm and the appearance of lots of bulbs meant that everyone was thinking spring thoughts. Our first workshops and flower clubs of the season were fully booked, and enjoyed with lots of repeat customers. 

We flowered just one Wedding in April, but it was a lovely colour scheme, and with creams and whites, pinks and burgundies. 1000's of seedlings were propagated and planted on the field, and we welcomed back our regular florists to the farm, and our regular subscription flowers started again. We also worked with Albury vineyard for a photo shoot.

May brought abundance with Ranunculus, Alliums, Iris and Cornflowers to name a few. We started stocking our flowers at The Charcuterie box Deli in West Horsley. There were more buckets of flowers for weddings and florists, and boots full of flowers for a farewell. Our Pick your own brought smiles, and the first Roses appeared in the Polytunnel, although the deer discovered the PYO area bushes, so there were no outdoor roses this season.

Early June was a flurry of planting, and then a week of holiday when everything was in the ground. On our return, there were weddings, lots more Pick your own's and plenty of buckets for events in all colours. Plus several visits to RHS Wisley for the Delphinium trial committee. 

July was our Peak Wedding month in 2024, with some lovely colour themes in both Pastels and brights. It was also the month I was featured in the English Garden magazine as a "floral trendsetter", we got a new wooden gate sign and I started my (very part time) new job as a Hilltop live presenter at the RHS Wisley - talking about what's in season each month. 

August was one of our quietest ever months, but with Pick your own sessions, Flower clubs, our supportive florists and bouquets and subscriptions there were still plenty of flowers leaving the field. Then in September we were back into the melee, or Weddings, The Wisley Flower show Dahlias and lots of fabulous flower club customers. 

October and November were a wonderful way to end the season, although we didn't have quite as many crops as normal, and we had a nasty fly tipping incident to deal with and put a dent in our budgets.  Our Dahlias put on a final burst, and our Chrysanths sold out with every stem going to florists or to the Charcuterie box as, brightly coloured bunches.

Ashley retired from Corporate life, and for the first time in 35 years we had a 3 week holiday inter railing around Europe. Jo, Tamsin and the team kept the farm going wonderfully in our absence, and we just had the Dahlias to take out and store on our return.

 December was wild and windy, but we were inside at Albury Vineyard for our 3 fully booked wreath workshops, and a session with a youth work experience group. Ferma farm shop supported us by stocking our dried flowers. The Plantpassion team enjoyed a Christmas lunch at Mandira's Kitchen, and just before Christmas we received our Carbon footprint report from Charlotte at 5D net zero. We'll be letting you know lots more about the results in coming months. 

So that's just some of the highlights of 2024. Thank you to all our wonderful customers who've shared our ups and downs this season. Like all small businesses we have highs and lows, and we really appreciate those who take time to recommend us, and review us and to connect with us. We've got plenty of plans for 2025, and lots and lots of flowers already in the ground, so we hope to see you at Hill top farm in the Spring.

Claire and the Plantpassion team